Freeway View - James McMurty

“This is another recent one, by James McMurtry on his album Just Us Kids. He’s a very dear friend of mine and a great writer, as is his father, the novelist Larry McMurtry. James puts together very complex songs, and he really knows Texas, the out-of-the way parts of the state that no one ever goes to. He brings them to life in his music. Each song is a novel in itself.

“I don’t want to sound big-headed, but I’d actually forgotten I played on this song, and I heard it on the radio in Austin once and thought ‘now that guy can really play the piano’ – and it was me! I’ll balance that by saying there’s more than a few when I think ‘Oh god, that organ sounds awful’, and it’s also me.”

Ian McLagan tours the UK and Ireland throughout August, full details at ianmclagan.com